What Spanish term describes the honoree at a quinceañera celebration?

The Spanish term quinceañera describes the girl or young woman being honored at the celebration.

The word comes from quince años, meaning “fifteen years,” and is also used for the celebration itself in many communities. In English-language settings, the honoree may be called the quinceañera, while the event may be called a quinceañera party or celebration.

The term is feminine because the tradition historically centers on a girl’s transition into a new stage of life. Some modern families adapt the custom for boys or use more gender-neutral formats, but quinceañera remains the established name for the traditional observance.

Quinceañera should not be confused with quince, a shortened informal name for the event, or with quinceañero, a masculine form sometimes used for a boy’s comparable celebration.